Car roof



E. G. FRANCK May 3, 1932.

CAR ROOF Filed May 25, 19151 2 Sheets-Sheec INVENTOR ATTO RN EYS E` G. FRANCK May 3, 1932.

CAR ROOF Filed May 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 3, 1.932`

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .EDWIN G. FRANCK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN', ASSIGNOR TO HUTCHINS CAR,` ROOFI'NG COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE GAR R001` Application led May 25, 1931.

The invention relates to car roofs designed for application to open cars of the gondola type when said cars are used for carrying loads requiring protection from the weather. lt is the primary object of the invention to obtain a construction which may be easily applied to or removed from the car and which also facilitates loading and unloading. To this end the invention consists in the contruction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

.Figure l is a plan view of the roof;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the roof;

Figure 3 is a cross section therethrough;

Figure el is a longitudinal section through adjacent roof sections.

`Figure 5 is a section on line 5e-5 of Figure l.

As my improved roof is designed for only temporary use, it is desirable to reduce the weight to the minimum, thereby facilitating easy removal and replacement. At the same time it is necessary to provide sufficient strength not only to effectually protect the contents of the car but also to permit the travelling of trainmen thereover. To accomplish such results I have constructed the roof of :flanged roofing sheets arranged alternately in spaced planes and with their flanges riveted to each other so as to produce a truss. |This dispenses with the necessity of carlines or other independent transversely extending reinforcing member. The roof is also formed in a plurality of sections so that by removing one or more of said sections access 1s provided for loading and unloading.

In detail, A are the roofing sheets of the lower plane and B the roofing sheets of the upper plane alternating with each other and extending transversely from eaves to eaves. The plates A are provided at their opposite edges with upturned flanges C and the plates B are similarly provided at their edges with f downturned flanges D overlapping the flanges C. These flanges are then riveted to each other forming of the two plates a Z-shaped cross section. At the eaves the flanges C and D are turned into the plane of the sheets and are then bent downward in overlapping rela- Serial No. 539,942.

tion as indicated at E to form the depending eaves flanges. The end sheet A also has a downturned end flange F extending completely across from side to side of the car. These downturned flanges E and F are reinforced by angle bars G having their horizontal flanges Gr extending in a common plane both on the sides and at the end of the car and adapted to rest on the angle flange H which forms the top of a gondola car. The plates A and B are fashioned to slope from the ridge towards the eaves and at the ridge are reinforced by a channel shaped ridge pole I. The saddle members J of angle construction are riveted to the overlapping flanges C and D above the ridge and these saddles support running boards H. Thus the entire structure is one which is exceedingly light and which therefore may be easily lifted on or off the car.

As has been stated, the roof is formed of a plurality of sections 'which may be independently removed or replaced. These sections adjacent to each other are provided with upturned flanges K which are reinforced by angle bars L. Transverse caps M en1- brace these upstanding flanges and are clamped upon the sheets by pins N. The cap M also supports a short running board section H2 which is intermediate the running boards H of the main sections and to further support this section H it extends over and rests upon extensions of the saddles J beyond the ends of the boards H.

To secure the roof upon the car, any suitable clamping means may be provided but as shown this comprises hinge brackets O secured to the depending flanges E and bent clamping levers P pivoted to said brackets and engaging the under side of the flanges H on the car. Clamping bolts Q, passing through the levers P and flanges E serve to draw the former into tight engagement with the angles H.

In use the car may be first loaded and the roof sections then applied thereto, or all of the sections excepting one may be first applied and the car loaded through the remaining opening.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A roof for gondola type open cars coinprising a series of rigidly connected roofing sheets extending from eaves to eaves and 5 pitched from ridge to eaves, depending iianges from the eaves ends of said sheets and across the end of the car, flanges extending laterally inward from said depending flanges arranged in the saine plane at eaves l0 and latyt'he =car end Ato `rest lupon zthe upper edge of the gondola body, and ineans for clamping said flanges to said body.

2. The combination with a gondola ear having an outwardly extending reinforcing flange at the upper edges'of its sides "and ends, of a roof therefor comprising roofing sheets extending from eaves to eaves and rigidly se cured to each other, said sheets being pitched from ridge to eaves, depending lianges at the eavesends of said sheets and at theends of the car, flanges extending laterally inward from said depending flanges arranged in the saine plane and adapted to rest upon the outwardly extending fla'nges of the gondola car and Ineans secured to said depending iianges for clamping beneath said reinforcing lli-anges o'f the carto hold said roof -thereto.

`3. The combination with a gondola car having outwardly extending reinforcing 3G flanges at the upper edges of its sides and ends, of a roof for said car comprising a series of roofing sheets extending from eaves to eaves and lalternately in spaced fplanes, saidsheets being pitched from ridge to eaves andhaving oppositely extending flanges overlapping and rigidly secured to each other, depending flanges on said sheets at the eaves arranged substantially in the same plane and spaced from the sides of 'the car, a kdepending 40 flange from the outer end of the end sheet,

flanges extending inwardly from said depending ianges arranged in the'same plane and adapted to rest Vupon the upper flanged edge ofthe gondola car, and clamping means engaging the under side of the flange of the Carto secure ythe roof thereto.

'In testimony whereof I aihx my signature.

EDWIN G. FRANCK. 

